Successful cessation of lamivudine using interferon in a patient with chronic hepatitis B who received prophylactic lamivudine treatment during chemotherapy

Lamivudine (LMV) prophylaxis is effective in preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients with chronic hepatitis B undergoing chemotherapy. However, the optimal duration of LMV prophylaxis remains unclear. We report herein the case of a woman with localized follicular B-cell lymphoma who received chemotherapy with LMV prophylaxis. She achieved complete response to lymphoma, and LMV treatment was continued for 8 months after completion of chemotherapy. HBV status was still inactive. LMV was then stopped, but reactivation of hepatitis developed 1 month after cessation of LMV. LMV was restarted, resulting in successful treatment of reactivated hepatitis. Interferon (IFN) was used for 6 months before withdrawal of LMV, which was successfully ceased without flare hepatitis. This report describes the utility of sequential therapy with LMV and IFN to treat flare after withdrawal of LMV in hepatitis B carriers who receive LMV prophylaxis during chemotherapy and to prevent flare after withdrawal of LMV.